Pornhub Owner Sues Utah Over New Child Protection Law Targeting Adult Websites
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Key Takeaways
- Utah age verification law: Aylo sued Utah, claiming expanded VPN-based restrictions violate constitutional commerce protections.
- VPN enforcement concerns: Utah law considers VPN users inside state, expanding compliance obligations for adult websites globally.
- Child safety measures: SB73 requires reasonable age checks and introduces fines, enforcement powers, and a 2% porn tax.
Aylo, the company behind major adult websites including Pornhub, RedTube, and YouPorn, has filed a lawsuit against the state of Utah over a new age verification law that recently took effect.
The lawsuit challenges SB73, a law passed almost unanimously by Utah lawmakers, which requires adult websites to make “reasonable efforts” to verify that users are not minors. The law is being described as one of the toughest age verification measures for pornographic websites in the United States.
Utah State Senator Calvin Musselman, who sponsored the bill, said the law is intended to apply the same kind of protections already used in industries like alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and gaming to online adult content.
According to the law, adult websites must either verify a user’s age or determine the state from which a user is accessing the platform. Utah lawmakers said the goal is to reduce children’s exposure to explicit content while also protecting user privacy.
Law Targets VPN Use and Expands Enforcement
Utah first introduced age verification requirements for porn websites in 2023. SB73 expands those rules by giving the Utah Department of Commerce authority to penalize companies that fail to block minors from accessing adult content.
The law also specifically addresses the use of virtual private networks (VPNs). Under SB73, a person can still be considered a Utah user even if they use a VPN to hide their location.
VPNs are commonly used to mask a device’s IP address and browsing location, making it harder for websites to determine where users are accessing services from.
Aylo argued in its complaint that the new rules would force the company to verify the ages or locations of users worldwide because Utah residents could potentially access the sites through VPNs. The company claims this effectively turns Utah’s law into a global standard.
The lawsuit further alleges that the law violates constitutional protections related to interstate and international commerce. Aylo also said compliance could result in losing a significant number of users, as many people choose not to complete age verification processes.
Under the law, companies could face fines of up to $2,500 per violation if they fail to comply.
Industry Experts Say Age Verification Technology Already Exists
Iain Corby, executive director of the Age Verification Providers Association, pushed back against claims that the law is impossible to implement.
According to Corby, websites already use multiple methods to estimate user locations, including advertising data and time zone tracking, even when VPNs are involved. He also said modern age verification systems can confirm ages using government IDs, email verification, facial recognition, or behavioral analysis while deleting sensitive data afterward to protect privacy.
Corby said he expects Utah regulators to define what counts as a “reasonable effort” under the law as the legal case moves forward.
He also questioned why adult platforms have not voluntarily implemented stronger protections for minors globally.
Most parts of SB73 officially took effect on May 6, including a new 2% tax on online pornography. Revenue from the tax will support mental health programs, educational initiatives, and enforcement efforts related to harmful online material for minors.
However, Utah and Aylo agreed to temporarily delay enforcement of the sections tied to age and location verification liability until September 3 while the lawsuit proceeds through federal court.
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